Tunisia police fire shots into air to disperse protesters

Police in Tunisia have fired shots into the air to disperse protesters in the southern town of Sidi Bouzid, witnesses say.

Security forces also used tear gas on Monday to break up demonstrators who were protesting against Tunisia’s government.

The violence erupted after angry protesters tried to prevent the governor from entering the town hall.

The North African country has been the scene of massive protests since the leader of the left-wing Popular Movement Party, Mohamed Brahmi, was killed on July 25. Opposition leader, Chokri Belaid, was also assassinated in February.

The secular Ettakatol Party says the ruling Ennahda-led coalition should step down due to tensions following the killing of Brahmi.

However, Prime Minister Ali Larayedh has appealed for calm, saying that Tunisia needs “national unity.”

The premier also said on July 29 that “this government will stay in office: we are not clinging to power, but we have a duty and a responsibility that we will exercise to the end.”

Larayedh has also proposed December 17 as the date for general elections.

On July 26, Tunisian Interior Minister Lotfi Ben Jeddou said the killing of Brahmi was linked to an extremist Salafist movement.

Planned talks between Ennahda and the opposition have failed to produce results as the opponents of the government declined to attend the meeting.

Tunisia has been grappling with political instability and insecurity since the fall of former dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in 2011.